Chapter Twelve
Twelve
Ryan rounded the curve of the staircase and headed toward his room. As he started down the hallway, he stilled and his attention landed on Morgan’s closed door.
Was she in there right now soaking in a hot bath with iridescent bubbles kissing her skin? She likely had that red hair piled on top of her head. Maybe a few wayward strands had fallen to lie against her neck.
When he’d brought her food up earlier it had taken every bit of his willpower not to go on into that bathroom and help make sure she was good and relaxed.
Ryan cursed beneath his breath. He could still go in there right now and take her.
She’d more than shown him that she was willing, but how would that further his goal?
He didn’t want a temporary fix to any situation.
He wanted Morgan forever to help him build the next generation and be one cohesive unit as a family.
Maybe she would come around. He had to keep looking ahead and whether Morgan believed him or not, this decision would be the best for her, too.
He only wished he didn’t have to be so damn noble like she’d accused. He’d used every last bit of his self-control where she was concerned. Over the past few nights, he’d lain awake wondering what she was doing across the hall and wondering if she was over there thinking of him, too.
Usually ranch business kept him tossing and turning, but now the insomnia could only be attributed to the fiery beauty who’d turned his world upside down, yet still refused his proposal.
Ryan ignored the invisible tug toward her room and cursed himself once again as he headed to his.
He had some emails to look over and some decisions to make regarding the sale of several head of cattle and he wanted to explore adding in more mares.
There was a new ranch about an hour away that he hoped to do business with and build a solid relationship with the new owner.
A nice glass of bourbon and a night on the balcony doing some work should help take his mind off Morgan. Probably not, but he had to at least try and he still had this business to run.
Ryan stepped into his room and closed the door, immediately pulling his tee over his head. He toed off his boots and removed his socks. Decompressing and forcing himself to relax was the only way he was going to get through these next few weeks.
Ryan went to the dry bar in the living area of his room and poured three fingers of his favorite bourbon. He pulled his cell from his pocket and opened up the emails as he headed toward the double doors leading to his balcony. Maybe a little fresh air would calm him.
He loved the outdoors and he loved the vantage point that his room provided over the property. He could see the barns, the pond, and some of the acreage with his livestock dotting the horizon.
There was nothing he loved more than seeing what he’d created.
Knowing now that he had an heir to pass his estate to warmed and settled something deep inside.
He’d been given a second chance with the most unexpected woman.
They would make a dynasty together, of that he was sure.
He was pretty damn proud of what he had to offer to not only Morgan, but their baby.
He’d taken wise investments and the inheritance from his parents and turned everything into the Yellow Rose Ranch. No other name would have fit this place. His mother had a plethora of yellow roses in her gardens year after year and he always wanted to remember her. The homage only seemed fitting.
The moment he stepped onto his balcony, Ryan stilled.
“Thank you for the dinner and the Christmas tree.”
Morgan sat on the sofa against the solid balcony wall with her bare legs stretched out along the cushions.
Her hair was piled on top of her head as he’d imagined.
..and that damn robe splayed open giving him the best view he’d ever seen on this balcony.
The only thing beneath the parted material was moonlit skin.
Damn. She was good at this.
“You’re welcome.”
Everything in him had to tear his gaze away from all of that exposed skin that he desperately wanted to touch. His grasp on this invisible string was about to snap and he didn’t know how much longer it would hold.
“Did you not want to sit on your balcony?” he asked. “It has a nice view, too.”
A slow grin spread across her face as her gaze dropped to his bare chest. “Not like this.”
His body instantly stirred and the loose grip on his resolve was nearly gone.
“You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Morgan swung those long, lean legs over the side of the couch and came to her feet. She spread her robe even wider as she rested her hands on her hips.
“No, I’m taking what we both want.”
And that was it. The gauntlet had been thrown down and he was damn well going to pick it up because there was only so much a man could take.
Ryan crossed to her in two strides.
Without a care or a second thought, he jerked that robe from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor behind her. Her eyes widened as did her smile, as if she knew she had won.
In his defense, though, he sure as hell hadn’t lost.
“Finally,” she murmured a second before he captured her lips.
Ryan couldn’t touch her enough. He wanted his hands all over her. He gripped her backside and pulled her hips flush wish his, her breasts pressed against his bare chest. He was not a damn bit angry that he’d given in.
They both needed this and she was sexy as hell for taking charge.
“Were you coming out here to work?” she muttered against his mouth.
“Work doesn’t exist for the moment.” He framed her face with his hands and forced her attention on him. “Nothing else matters but right here, right now.”
Her eyes remained fixed on his as her hands went to the buckle on his belt. Ryan sucked in a breath as she worked his jeans open and shoved them down, taking his boxer briefs with them.
“I hope your ranch hands are in the bunkhouse.” She laughed.
“You ask now after you’ve already been sitting out here practically naked?”
She shrugged. “I was only worried about you, nothing else.”
His heart clenched and he hated that unwanted sensation. He didn’t want his heart involved. He’d tried that before and it had left him emotionally scarred.
This was sex. Just like the other two times with Morgan. There were no deeper feelings to explore.
“They’re probably all in the bunkhouse,” he assured her. “And it’s well on the other side of the barns. Nobody can see what we’re doing up here.”
She poked a finger into his chest. “Then take a seat, cowboy.”
Who was he to ignore a demand like that?
Ryan shifted around her and sank down onto the sofa. Morgan stared down at him. The gentle evening breeze picked up her stray tendrils and sent them dancing about her shoulders. Morgan’s body seemed to radiate a shimmering beauty with the moonlight and soft glow spilling out from his bedroom.
She rested a knee on one side of his hips, then straddled him with her other. Delicate hands came to rest on his shoulders as she continued to keep her wide stare on him.
There was more than passion in those expressive eyes, there was determination. He could appreciate her drive and her desire. They were matched in so many ways, yet he couldn’t look at this as more than a smart decision to further the future goals of his ranch.
Ryan gripped her hips as she joined their bodies and every thought in his head vanished.
There was only now with this woman. Her short nails bit into his skin as she began to move.
Her quick actions were a sure sign she’d had too much pent-up passion as he’d held her off as long as he could.
He should have known he wouldn’t be able to last the entire month without having her and he should have known Morgan would go after what she wanted.
Knowing she was this turned on, this aroused for him, only added to his pressing need for her.
Ryan gripped her backside with one hand and thrust the other up into her hair, sending the knot tumbling down.
Vibrant red strands fell around her shoulders as she dropped her head back and arched into his body.
Her hips jerked faster and watching her lose herself in the intensity of the moment was all he needed to let go. They’d been dancing around this moment for days and he couldn’t hold back any longer.
Ryan pulled her mouth to his and captured her lips. He needed to feel all of her, to touch her any way and every way he could. Morgan’s body calmed seconds before his and Ryan banded his arms around her waist. He nipped at her lips gently before easing back and staring up at her.
Those full, damp lips, her hair in a mass all around them, and those sexy heavy lids with her eyes locked onto his had Ryan already positive this was just the start of tonight’s festivities.
“Thanks for the tree and dinner,” she told him with a smile.
“You already told me that.”
He smoothed the hair back from her face, wanting to see more of her and wondering if he’d ever get enough.
“I wanted to thank you properly,” she amended.
Ryan ran his hands up and down that smooth skin on her back and down over her hips.
She shivered beneath his touch, which only proved to him he held some power over her.
She wasn’t immune to his advances or uncaring.
She wanted this, maybe from a different standpoint than him, but didn’t they technically have the same goal in mind?
They both wanted stability for their child and they both had amazing chemistry. Why couldn’t she see this was so much more than temporary or some challenge to see who could win? They both could.
Soon she would come to realize that this might not be the same type of relationship as so many in Royal had found with everlasting love, but he and Morgan had a pretty damn good possibility to be a dynamic couple. Love didn’t have to factor in one bit.
When she trembled once again, Ryan gathered her close and came to his feet, with her still wrapped all around him.
“It’s a little chilly out here.” He kept his focus over her shoulder as he carefully carried her back into his room. “Maybe you can keep expressing your thanks in here where it’s warmer and more comfortable.”
Her lips grazed his neck. “I still have plenty of ways to show my appreciation.”
Ryan’s entire body heated up all over again at her sultry tone and promise. He hoped like hell this was just one of the many nights she would spend in his bed and wondered if they were just one step closer to putting that ring on her finger.